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North Dakota farmer and National corn growers Association president Kevin Schoonis says that the ongoing tariff and trade dispute with China could prove costly for the Trump administration in rural America. “Certainly the Trump administration has support out in the countryside and farmers but if this short term fix to a long term problem turns out to be more long-term, financially it is pretty tough out in farm country right now and the support for the administration might not be there for as long as it takes them to get things fixed.”

In November, Commerce Sec. Wilbur Ross was critical of agriculture for being so vocal about his concern over trade policy. He said it could be costly at the negotiating table for US officials. But Schoonis says he thinks it is important to get agriculture’s point across. “I don’t believe a meeting like today is yelling and screaming. I think it’s a respectful message that what is going on out in farm country. We are part of our country, part of our government and we deserve to be heard.